Mists of Pandaria: Challenge Modes

If seeing Dragon Soul nerfed every month isn't your thing, Challenge Modes in Mists of Pandaria may be more your style. Similar to Herald of the Titans, you'll beat bosses without overgearing them, getting special vanity prizes like unique transmog armor as rewards.

Comments

Comment by Odinheim

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 09:40:05 -0500

I sense nothing but bad from Sin'dorei role players with some of these sets. IC Demon-Hunters, Illidan-wannabes, Mages with Orange/Blue eyes IC, Vivi wannabes, etc. Personally, I'm looking forward to giggling at lithe rogues trying not to teeter under the weight of a statue on their shoulders. A statue.

Comment by Azrile

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 09:57:13 -0500

If it is an exploit, that is one thing. If you are doing it legit, then it will be all over youtube and people will tweak it making it better beating and everyone will know it anyway.

You missed the part where I said Blizzard would change either the availability of certain spells inside the dungeon or else make tweaks to the dungeon so that things are working as intended. That was really my point, after the ´tactic´ has been used and the really good times have been achieved by a few, the ´tactic´will be changed and the dungeons adjusted and those high scores will remain. The problem I am hearing now is that the tactics being used are very class specific... which means anyone who wants to get top scores are going to use two classes (in particular) and those that cannot pull off that tactic, are going to be 5 minutes or more slower.

Remember all the races to level 70 in BC. You had stuff like ´tapping´.. then in Wotlk ( I think) you had a semi-exploit where people would be in an instance, but not in a group and get huge exp. The tactics used by almost all the ´world first´ guilds on raid bosses are usually nerfed so that they don´t work anymore.

Like I said, we will see. My guess is the patch notes about a month after launch will include the disabling of certain spells inside challenge modes... but the high scores that were achieved before the patch using those spells will stand.

Comment by afarrell

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 11:04:54 -0500

I think Blizzard will be keeping a close eye on the first high scores - no way they'll keep them if it's not kosher.

One thing that will be interesting to see is what happens to the scores after the first Legendaries start appearing...

Comment by faerogue

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 11:44:56 -0500

I'm getting a bugged viewer with the hunter set too, most of the set is fine but the helm is a rather druidy looking helm.

Comment by Rattja

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:05:33 -0500

About the whole "the highest scores will be set early and never beaten" thing.

I can see your point with the tactics, clever usage of items or whatever, but what about the classes?We all know the drill by now, they will not be balanced at lunch, and they will keep on changing.I wonder how they will handle this. I see it possible that at some point, one class might be a little OP and it will be best to bring that class, maybe even stack it. Later something else will change and new tactics will form.

This could be interesting to keep an eye on. Though I can't help to think that Blizzard is making it harder for themselves, in that they have to keep in mind raiding, pvp and challenge when balancing.Even with the downscale of ilevel on the gear, the toolkit of every class will constantly change.

Time will tell I guess.

Comment by jumbodog

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:45:26 -0500

I think the real issue isn't the change in class mechanics or who is OP it's what Blizzard does about that fact. Realistically, there is no way that a beta catches every bug or every novel tactic a pool of eleven million players can dream up. All it takes is that one-in-10 million person and and thanks to the glory of Youtube soon everyone will know it.

The problem is what happens next. Do you penalize that ingenuity and take away those scores or do you let it ride out. Typically, Blizzard has let it ride out because they don't want to blame creative players for Blizzard's own failings.

In the end it's probably boils down to how popular the challenges become. If the are a big hit then Blizzard may feel forced to do something to quiet the QQ. But if it winds up being like the popularity of war games <shrug> only a few people will even notice.

Comment by sapphireplusle

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:10:18 -0500

so do I also get that cool eye color change on my mage...? Might be kewl. :)

Comment by adammartin13

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 15:04:21 -0500

this is the 2nd time blizz made a bad dk set. the first time they mest up was when they had that set with the wings on the helmet..............yeh you remember that.well but hey at least we got transmog now. time to go get some more tier 10 icc.

Comment by Azrile

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 15:17:03 -0500

I think Blizzard will be keeping a close eye on the first high scores - no way they'll keep them if it's not kosher.

One thing that will be interesting to see is what happens to the scores after the first Legendaries start appearing...

Comment by Rainemard

Comment by Azrile

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 15:39:02 -0500

I think the real issue isn't the change in class mechanics or who is OP it's what Blizzard does about that fact. Realistically, there is no way that a beta catches every bug or every novel tactic a pool of eleven million players can dream up. All it takes is that one-in-10 million person and and thanks to the glory of Youtube soon everyone will know it.

The problem is what happens next. Do you penalize that ingenuity and take away those scores or do you let it ride out. Typically, Blizzard has let it ride out because they don't want to blame creative players for Blizzard's own failings.

In the end it's probably boils down to how popular the challenges become. If the are a big hit then Blizzard may feel forced to do something to quiet the QQ. But if it winds up being like the popularity of war games <shrug> only a few people will even notice.

I am so happy they made the transmorg stuff the gold reward and the mount the silver reward. As a bear druid, that takes a lot of the incentive away to really go crazy on them. I will just get all the silvers and call it a day.

Comment by Interest

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 15:53:28 -0500

I think the real issue isn't the change in class mechanics or who is OP it's what Blizzard does about that fact. Realistically, there is no way that a beta catches every bug or every novel tactic a pool of eleven million players can dream up. All it takes is that one-in-10 million person and and thanks to the glory of Youtube soon everyone will know it.

The problem is what happens next. Do you penalize that ingenuity and take away those scores or do you let it ride out. Typically, Blizzard has let it ride out because they don't want to blame creative players for Blizzard's own failings.

In the end it's probably boils down to how popular the challenges become. If the are a big hit then Blizzard may feel forced to do something to quiet the QQ. But if it winds up being like the popularity of war games <shrug> only a few people will even notice.

Speaking of war games....I wish they'd bring Arena Skirmishes back.

Comment by qaccy

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 16:11:29 -0500

I think Blizzard will be keeping a close eye on the first high scores - no way they'll keep them if it's not kosher.

One thing that will be interesting to see is what happens to the scores after the first Legendaries start appearing...

I think this person was referring to stuff like set bonuses and procs on items. ilvl may be reduced, but what about these two things? Set bonuses in particular have been known to be huge game changers for certain specs.

Comment by ramadrama

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 17:41:27 -0500

Will they ever make a good looking hunter set?

Comment by AWildmann

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:00:12 -0500

What is it with blizzard and horns lately? The warlock helmet looks like mannoroth's head.

Comment by Kaganfindel

on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:27:12 -0500

I was really looking forward to having a material incentive for challenge modes, but aside from the ridiculous pauldrons and the ninja hood that rogue set looks an awful lot like WotLK quest greens.

Comment by outlands

on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:20:00 -0500

Its going to be fun to Challanage everyone in these, I like the shaman gear and the Paladin gear the best. Warrior gear is sweet also.

Comment by xDruidx

on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:33:46 -0500

The sets look very impressive :)Love the warlock and druid sets.

Comment by Irshim

on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:49:04 -0500

I am thankful for transmog. The priest helm is just too tall! Would otherwise be a awesome set.